Riley was victorious, and soon his name echoed throughout the entire region.
Songs were sung of his feats, and storytellers carried tales of his impossible victories from village to village, painting him as a man chosen by destiny itself.
To the people, he was not merely the young heir of the Rice Clan—he was a figure who had reshaped their very way of life.
The laws of the land shifted under his command, and unlike so many rulers before him, his changes were not crafted for selfish gain but for the betterment of all.
He abolished the cruel levy that had bled farmers dry, replacing it with fair contributions that left enough food for families to thrive.
He regulated trade routes, ensuring merchants would not be ambushed by bandits without consequence.
He even ordered the construction of roads connecting once-isolated clans, allowing the flow of goods, knowledge, and culture.
